5 Prayers to Help Us Process the Events at the Capitol
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This past Wednesday, thousands of people gathered at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington D.C. Their stated purpose was to hold a peaceful protest and march in support of the President. As we all now know, however, things turned ugly and deadly when a mob later stormed the Capitol building.
I give praise that no matter how overwhelming events in this world may be, You are still supreme, still The Lord of Lords. Let my hope and strength come from giving You worship.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
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Blessed Jehovah,
Scenes like the ones in Washington D.C. always grieve me. The brutality that people are capable of still surprises me. And if I’m not careful, I can get very stirred up in my own spirit.
Father, at times like these I become so aware of Your goodness to us. In our human-ness, we are so undeserving of anything from You. Yet because of what Jesus did on the cross, You have regard for us. The grace You pour down on us continues to amaze me.
I feel burdened to pray, for myself and others, that we would not take these blessings for granted. Let us be grateful for each gift we receive. With every touch, turn us toward You, so that our hearts become more aligned with Yours.
I pray in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
Abba Father,
You have designed us with emotions, as a way to connect with each other and the world. But all too often, people let feelings drive them, which can lead them into trouble. Those at the Capitol who acted on their anger today inflicted pain, and their rampage left only damage in its wake.
Lord, I pray right now that You will make me into a sower of peace. The Apostle Paul wrote that You are a “God of peace,” and I want to follow Your Ways. Show me how to let love motivate me to speak and act, and give me a desire to encourage instead of tear down.
Help me, God, to be bold as I go out. Right now, there are people who don’t even want to think about peace. So I ask for Your grace to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Doing that may not change the world, but it will remind people that there is a better way.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
As God’s people, it’s natural and right for us to grieve when we see people decide to use violence as a way to solve problems. The Lord wants to soothe the hurt we feel, and to teach us that we can be part of making a difference going forward. Being in His Presence and His Word will equip us to be active in bringing more of His peace to the world.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Geoff Livingston
